HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action form dated July 8, 1997 F
Item #
Date: July 8. 1997
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: BLOOMINGTON ROAD AND G.W. CARVER SPEED LIMITS
BACKGROUND:
With the paving improvements and road alterations completed on Bloomington Road
and G.W. Carver this past fall, staff believed that the speed limits should also be
changed. As part of the fall's project, Bloomington Road was paved from G.W. Carver
east to Grant Avenue. Also, the roadway was realigned by constructing Bloomington
Road as a contiguous section with the northerly section of G.W. Carver Boulevard.
With this realignment, the section of G.W. Carver south of Bloomington Road was
constructed as the terminal approach section at this "T" intersection. Since a portion of
both roadways are contained in Story County, City staff has been working with the
Story County Engineering staff during the past nine months to change the speed limits.
Just recently, staff had been notified that the County had approved the change in speed
limits proposed by staff. With this approval, staff proposes that speed limits should be
changed to correlate with ones approved by the County and recommended by City
staff.
The speed limit changes proposed by staff would lower the posted 55 mph speed limits
along Bloomington Road from the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the west City limits.
Prior to paving the project, speed limits varied on Bloomington Road from the posted
40 mph speed limit from Grant Avenue to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, to the 55
mph speed limit posted west of this section. With realignment and paving
improvements, staff believes that the speed limits should be lowered from 55 mph to 45
mph from Grant Avenue to 1,100' west of the G.W. Carver intersection (City limits).
Staff believes that this 45 mph speed limit is appropriate on Bloomington Road
based on existing road conditions, motorist's speeds, speed limits on
comparative city streets, and other criteria. Based on prevailing speeds, this
proposed speed limit is similar to the average speeds (42.7 mph) and the 85% speed
(49.4 mph) of motorists along this section. (Traffic engineering guides do recommend
that speed limits should be posted at speeds that 85% of the motorists were traveling.
According to studies, 85% of the motorists travel at or below speeds that are safe for
the prevailing street conditions. With speed limits established at this speed, overall
compliance would be achieved and safety would be enhanced by decreasing conflicts
between faster and slower drivers.) Shown on the attached sheet are the locations of
the proposed speed limits along these sections.
I
• r
CAF - Bloomington Rd/G.W. Carver Speed Limit
July 8, 1997
Page 2
The proposed 45 mph speed limit is also comparable to other speed limits established
on City arterial streets that extend through residential districts. Typically, a 45 mph limit
has been established along other arterial streets that have a rural design and are
adjacent to undeveloped agricultural land use. Arterial streets that are designated with
a 45 mph speed limit zone include East 13th Street (River Valley Park to east corporate
limits), Elwood Drive (South 4th Street to south corporation limits), Oakwood Road
(State Street to Elwood Drive), and East Lincoln Way (Sondrol Drive to Dayton
Avenue). This 45 mph speed limit will also provide a transition speed on G.W. Carver
between the 55 mph speed limit established within the County, and the 40/35 mph
speed limits proposed east of the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks.
Staff also believes that a 40 mph speed limit should be extended on a section of
G.W. Carver from 700' north of Northridge Parkway to Bloomington Road. This
would be consistent with the speed limit designated on G.W. Carver south of this
section to Stange Road. Staff believes that this is appropriately designated due to the
changed alignment along G.W. Carver and with development in the Northridge
Subdivision. Due to the change in alignment, southbound motorists on G.W. Carver
are required to stop at this new "Tee" intersection at Bloomington Road. These
motorists should have a reduced speed prior to approaching this intersection. Also, a
reduced speed should be designated along this area due to the new development in
the Northridge Subdivision.
Due to the extended time needed for the County to designate the appropriate speed
limits on these sections of Bloomington Road and G.W. Carver, and to enhance safety,
City staff had temporarily lowered the posted speed limits to ones currently proposed.
No problems have been reported concerning these temporarily posted speed limits.
ALTERNATIVES:
1 . Designate a 45 mph speed limit on sections of Bloomington Road from the Union
Pacific Railroad Tracks west to 1100' west of G.W. Carver Boulevard intersection (City
limits). Also, designate a 40 mph speed limit on G.W. Carver from 700' north of
Northridge Parkway to Bloomington Road. This measure will correspond to the
measure approved by Story County officials.
2. Modify the request by designating a 40 mph speed limit along all sections of
Bloomington Road and G.W. Carver.
CAF - Bloomington Rd/G.W. Carver Speed Limit
July 8, 1997
Page 3
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative
number 1 , thereby directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance designating a 45
mph speed limits on sections of Bloomington Road from the Union Pacific Railroad
Tracks west to 1100' west of the G.W. Carver Boulevard intersection (City limits), and a
40 mph speed limit of G.W. Carver from 700' north of Northridge Parkway to
Bloomington Road.
COUNCIL ACTION:
F:\SL\97CAF\BLOOMGW.708\s1:orig
Proposed S s
Bloomington Rd. and G.W. Carver Blvd.
N
W
Q
z
Q
PROPOSED 45 MPH 35 MPH 30 MPH
SPEED ZONE SPEED ZONE SPEED ZONE
(Existing 55 MPH) �
GW CARVER AVE BLOOMINGTON RD
1100, WES OUND :
0
50% S eed 43.8 z
85X Speed 50.5 w
EASTBOUND w
50Y Speed 41.6
gU C 1-�N AN
85% Speed 48.2
Q
— PROPOSED 40 MPHLi
SPEED ZONE
\ U (Existing 55 MPH)
ROAD
NORTHRIDGE PKWYt 40 MPH
SPEED ZONE